Sweden hosted the annual Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Forum
Published
In October 2024, nearly 650 participants gathered in Visby, Sweden, and many more online, for the annual Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Forum. Taking into account the challenges in our neighbourhood, the programme focused on preparedness, robustness and resilience. An overarching focus was the cooperation with and support to Ukraine, initiated during the Swedish Presidency of the Strategy 2022–2023. A recurring focus area was also the cooperation with young people, which follows from the Council conclusions for the EU’s macro-regional strategies developed during Sweden’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2023. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave an opening address while Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren participated in a plenary session on bioeconomy.
The EUSBSR promotes international cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and is divided into three main objectives: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. Since its inception in 2009, the strategy has helped to strengthen cooperation in the region in all three areas. Work is underway to address the level of harmful substances in the Baltic Sea and coastal areas, as are efforts to limit nutrient leakage from agriculture. Shipping is an important industry that relies on its ability to operate all year round. The Strategy is therefore active in projects that ensure the ability to navigate in winter conditions, including icebreakers and the ability to train staff; to name just a few examples.
In addition, the Strategy has helped strengthen cooperation between authorities, for example on issues such as animal welfare, health, antimicrobial resistance and food supply. Taking into account the challenges of the global situation, efforts focusing on crisis preparedness, robustness and resilience have been initiated with the aim of strengthening security in the region.
Ukraine – a continued priority for the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
An overall focus of efforts in the Strategy is cooperation with and support to Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, an overall focus of the Swedish Presidency of the Strategy 2022–2023 was to establish forms of cooperation with Ukraine with the aim of supporting the country now and after the war. As part of this, Ukrainians have been trained in tactical medicine, mine safety, psychological resilience and democratic civic engagement. Support for Ukraine continues to be a key priority for the work of the strategy, including during the current Polish Presidency.
Strong bioeconomy – key to the green transition
In line with the Karlstad Declaration, endorsed by the Nordic ministers for fisheries, agriculture, food and forestry in June 2024, cross-border cooperation and exchange of experiences in the region in areas such as preparedness, resilience and resilience are more important today than ever. With increasing geopolitical tensions, the countries of the Baltic Sea region face common challenges, of which a sustainable and resilient food supply throughout the production chain is one of many examples.
Challenges vary from country to country. Some are more or less self-sufficient, some have solid crisis preparedness strategies, while others face greater challenges. The exchange of knowledge and experience within the region is thus essential to strengthening cooperation and resilience.
A strong bioeconomy can contribute to a more modern, resource-efficient and competitive region, benefiting the EU as a whole. Emissions and dependence on fossil fuels can be reduced through the use of bio-based resources, driving the green transition. By strengthening crisis preparedness in agriculture, forestry and fisheries and aquaculture, geopolitical and climate-related challenges can be met with greater resilience, creating the conditions for sustainable food supply also in times of crisis.
Strengthened transnational cooperation within the region and across the EU can be crucial for food security and sustainability. In this, the Strategy can provide a valuable policy framework supporting preparedness, robustness and resilience in the bioeconomy sector.
Reinforced cooperation the route to a more secure region
A clear key message is the need for enhanced cooperation – at all levels and in different forms – given the challenges the Strategy faces in the region. In light of this, the importance of enhanced cooperation and support for Ukraine cannot be overemphasised. We live in an uncertain world where there must be preparedness to deal with crises in the form of war, pandemic and climate change. Reinforced cooperation in peacetime, where the Strategy helps to lay a foundation that also works in times of crisis, cannot be emphasised enough. This permeated the forum’s many discussions and networking events.
Further key messages from the forum were strengthened cooperation, crisis preparedness, robustness and resilience (as illustrated in the bioeconomy/Karlstad Declaration), the transport sector and its challenges, and energy security and the conflicts of interest that arise with offshore wind-power planning. It was also noted that young people want to be more involved and taken seriously, and there was a call for formalising young people’s involvement in the Strategy. The need for collective competence in order to effectively address complex social challenges has increased. A more resilient and secure Europe can be built through pooled resources – an aspect also at the heart of EU macro-regional strategies.
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was adopted during the Swedish Presidency of the EU in 2009. The Strategy has three main objectives: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity.
